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2014

Year in Review

This special report highlights the Defense Department's 10 most critical issues, from budget concerns at home to emerging threats around the world. As U.S. troops responded to such events, they also continued to train, conduct operations, compete as athletes and assist with disasters to keep America safe.

1

The Fight Against ISIL

2

Asia-Pacific Rebalance

3

Drawdown in Afghanistan

4

Operation Atlantic Resolve

5

DoD Ebola Response

6

Impact of Sequestration

7

DoD Disaster Response

8

MV Cape Ray Mission

9

Health System Review

10

Warrior Athletes Compete

The Fight Against ISIL

The United States provided humanitarian aid to thousands of civilians fleeing from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a terrorist group known as ISIL, in early August in northern Iraq. On Aug. 8, one day after President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes to protect Americans in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, two F/A-18 aircraft conducted the first attack against ISIL. The effort to degrade and destroy ISIL continued through August. In early September, Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry attended a NATO summit in Wales, where the three leaders helped form an anti-ISIL coalition. As ISIL's aggression continued, U.S. and coalition partner nations began airstrikes in Syria in late September. As the year draws to a close, the multinational effort to eliminate the terror group is ongoing.

"What's needed now is a targeted, relentless counterterrorism campaign against ISIL that combines American air power, contributions from allies and partners, and more support to forces that are fighting these terrorists on the ground. And that's exactly what we're doing."

President Barack Obama

The Asia-Pacific Rebalance

The United States demonstrated its continued commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, where the Defense Department has deployed more than 350,000 troops. President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, each visited the region in 2014. Work has discussed plans to move 60 percent of Air Force and Navy forces there by 2020. In October, the United States and Japan began revising the guidelines for bilateral defense cooperation in light of increased cyber threats and the growing threat posed by North Korea. The effort marks the first revision of the guidelines since 1997.

"We are seeking a posture in Asia that is geographically dispersed, operationally resilient [and] politically sustainable with an aim of maintaining peace and prosperity in one of the most important regions in the world."

Bob Work Deputy Defense Secretary

Drawdown in Afghanistan

U.S. and NATO leaders will conclude their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, decreasing U.S. troop levels to no more than 10,800. Coalition forces are transitioning to Operation Resolute Support, focusing on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces to assume full responsibility for Afghan security. As a drawdown milestone, the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, which handled daily operations for five years, cased its colors Dec. 8.

"I think it's going to be a great window of opportunity for Afghanistan as we move forward."

Army Gen. John F. Campbell Commander of the International Security Assistance Force and United States Forces - Afghanistan

Operation Atlantic Resolve

The United States continued to demonstrate its commitment to the collective security of NATO allies and partner nations in Europe by participating in multinational training exercises throughout the year as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. That commitment proceeded as Russia illegally annexed Crimea and pro-Russian separatists took control of part of Ukraine. The United States was one of 15 nations to participate in Rapid Trident, an exercise in Ukraine, while tensions continued between Ukrainian forces and separatists.

"The challenges facing NATO today remind us of the enduring need for this historic alliance and what we must do to strengthen it."

Chuck Hagel Defense Secretary

DoD Ebola Response

With a deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the U.S. mobilized to help stop the spread of the disease. Supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Defense Department launched Operation United Assistance in late September, under U.S. Africa Command. U.S. service members deployed to West Africa to build treatment facilities and support efforts – but not to serve where they could have contact with Ebola patients. At home, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel created a 30-person medical support team to respond to Ebola cases in the United States. Doctors with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick, Md., have continued research to find a vaccine against Ebola.

"The challenge [is] to find and understand where there is a hotspot and then move the resources there quickly."

Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez Commander of U.S. Africa Command

Impact of Sequestration

The Defense Department continued wrestling with the budget realities of sequestration. In congressional testimony April 9, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said sequestration could cause force reductions of 213,000 soldiers. On April 15, department officials released a report documenting the sequester's detrimental impact on force levels and modernization efforts. In September, Odierno reiterated his concerns: "It will be very difficult for us to lead around the world." Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, said sequestration also posed significant problems in maintaining technical superiority.

"If there is anything that is killing us today it is the threat of sequestration. We have been living in a nightmare budget situation."

Frank Kendall Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

DoD Disaster Response

Service members from across the forces helped civilia-n authorities respond to a variety of disasters at home and abroad throughout the year. The missions took U.S. personnel to the Indian Ocean to search for a passenger jet that mysteriously disappeared, and saw them battle diverse conditions from mudslides to wildfires.

Notable Disasters

MV Cape Ray Mission

In January, the Defense Department began a seven-month mission to help the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons neutralize Syria's stockpile of about 700 metric tons of chemical materials. More than 60 chemical specialists from the Army's Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Md., deployed to the MV Cape Ray. Crews used hydrolysis systems to neutralize the chemicals aboard the ship in the Mediterranean Sea, completing the work in August.

"The Army people that are going to deploy for the next few months to go out and conduct this mission are heroes. They are... ensuring that it's done safely and the environment and people are protected while they do it."

Frank Kendall Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

Health System Review

In May, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered a comprehensive review of the Military Health System, which cares for 9.6 million beneficiaries. Health care professionals visited seven military treatment facilities to gather information from staff and patients. An October report determined the system provides quality care, but made five recommendations:

Take immediate action to improve underperformance

Develop a quality and patient analytics system

Guarantee transparency of information

Create new governance models that include collaboration among the services, the Defense Health Agency and the defense secretary

Create common standards and processes to improve outcomes

"The review found pockets of excellence, significant excellence which we're very proud of and extraordinary doctors, nurses and staff who are deeply dedicated to the patients they serve. It also found gaps, however, and facilities that must improve."

Chuck Hagel Defense Secretary

Warrior Athletes Compete

In February, former and active-duty soldiers from the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program captured five medals in bobsled, luge and skeleton events at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. During the 2014 Paralympic Games that followed, five wounded warrior athletes won medals. In the fall, U.S. warrior athletes competed in the inaugural Invictus Games in London and the Warrior Games in Colorado. While there, the Army team won the Chairman's Cup as the top-performing service branch.